Training apparatus, in particular an elliptical or cross trainer

ABSTRACT

A training apparatus, in particular an elliptical or cross trainer with two pedals which are fitted on a respective. pedal bar, front ends of the pedal bars being connected in an articulated manner to a respective pedal lever, the pedal levers being fitted pivotably in a respective front bearing, and the front bearings being fitted with height adjustability on a front part of a frame.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a training apparatus, in particular anelliptical or cross trainer, with two pedals which are fitted on arespective pedal bar, front ends of the pedal bars being connected in anarticulated manner to a respective pedal lever. The pedal levers areconnected pivotably to a respective front bearing.

Training apparatus of this kind are known, for example, from the utilitymodel bearing the publication number DE 201 00 276 U1. Furthermore,training apparatus of this kind are produced and sold by varioussuppliers, including the Applicant.

During training, the person using a training apparatus of the kinddisclosed in the document with the publication number DE 201 00 267 U1stands on the pedals, which are connected fixedly to the pedal bars.During training, the user's feet execute an approximately ellipticalmovement, for which reason the term elliptical trainer is also used forsuch apparatus. The ellipse is oriented such that the main radii of theellipse extend substantially horizontally. The person using the trainingapparatus therefore has the impression of moving forward in one plane.For certain training programs, it is desirable if the user of thetraining apparatus is given the impression of moving uphill or downhill.Such an impression cannot be conveyed with the known training apparatusof the type mentioned at the outset.

An object of the invention is to improve a training apparatus of thetype mentioned at the outset in such a way that different degrees ofdifficulty can be set and the person using the apparatus can be giventhe sensation of moving uphill or downhill.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, this object is achieved by the fact that thefront bearings are fitted with height adjustability on a front part of aframe, referred to hereinafter as the frame front part. By means of adisplacement of the bearing point of the pedal levers, the orientationof the ellipse along which the user's feet move can be changed. Theellipse can be inclined upward or downward in relation to a horizontal.An inclination of this kind gives the user the sensation of movinguphill or downhill.

To set the height of the front bearings, the training apparatus can havespecial adjustment means or means of adjustment. These adjustment meanscan comprise a drive, which is preferably an electric motor. Theadjustment then no longer has to be effected by muscle power, andinstead can be assisted by the electric motor.

The adjustment means preferably comprise conversion elements forconverting a rotational movement into a linear movement. These elementscan comprise a spindle and/or a nut, and the nut can be arrangedrotatably on the spindle.

Rear ends of the pedal bars of a training apparatus according to theinvention are advantageously connected in an articulated manner to arespective pedal crank. These pedal cranks can be arranged rotatablyabout a common axis.

Handles can also be fitted or formed onto the pedal cranks.

In an advantageous embodiment of the training apparatus, the pedals canbe mounted displaceably on the pedal bars. The pedal can then beconnected in an articulated manner to a respective push bar, the pushbars advantageously being connected in an articulated manner to arespective push bar crank. These push bar cranks can be arrangedrotatably about the axis about which the pedal cranks are already ableto rotate.

The distances between the points of engagement of the push bars on thepush bar cranks and the axis are advantageously adjustable.

The pedal cranks and/or the push bar cranks may advantageously beentirely or partially formed by circular disks.

The points of engagement of the pedal bars on the pedal cranks and ifappropriate the points of engagement of the push bars on the push barcranks lie preferably in a plane which also contains the axis aboutwhich the push bar cranks and the pedal cranks are able to rotate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

An illustrative embodiment of a cross trainer according to the inventionis depicted in detail in the drawings, in which

FIG. 1 shows a side view of the cross trainer;

FIG. 2 shows a plan view of the cross trainer;

FIG. 3 shows a view from the rear;

FIG. 4 shows a view from the front; and

FIG. 5 shows a perspective illustration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The cross trainer illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5 has a frame with a lowerpart 1 a and a front part 1 b. The frame is produced essentially by twohollow profiles arranged at a distance from each other. The hollowprofiles are largely guided parallel to each other, in particular in theregion of the front part 1 b of the frame. In a rear region of the lowerpart 1 a of the frame, the hollow profiles are angled, so that they liedirectly adjacent to each other in this region.

The upwardly protruding ends of the hollow profiles forming the frontpart 1 b of the frame are connected to each other via first webs 1 c.These first webs 1 c are produced from pieces of flat steel. Inaddition, the two hollow profiles are connected to each other in theregion of the front part 1 b of the frame via a second web 1 d composedof a hollow profile. An electric motor 5 is fastened to this web 1 d,which is fitted below the two first webs 1 c. This electric motor 5drives a spindle element 4, the length of which can be changed by theelectric motor 5. At its lower end, the spindle element is fitted on afitting 2 which is connected fixedly to the web 1 d. The upper end ofthe spindle element 4 is connected to a fitting

which is fastened to a crosspiece 7. This crosspiece 7 is mounteddisplaceably between the first webs 1 c on sliding tubes 6.

By rotation of a spindle of the spindle element, the height of thecrosspiece 7 can be changed. Projecting struts 7 a which areheight-adjustable together with the crosspiece 7 are fitted fixedly onthe crosspiece 7. Two front bearings 8 are provided at the free ends ofthe struts 7 a. A respective pedal lever 9 is mounted pivotably on thesefront bearings 8. The pedal levers 9 extend both below the frontbearings 8 and above the bearings 8, with the upper ends of the pedallevers 9 forming handles 10.

The lower ends of the pedal levers 9 are connected in an articulatedmanner to front ends of pedal bars 12 via a bearing 11. The rear ends ofthe pedal bars 12 are connected to pedal cranks 21 a, 21 b via bearingsformed from bearing bushings 12 a and journals 20, with the pedal crank21 a being formed by a circular disk 21 a. The two pedal cranks 21 a, 21b are rotatable about a common axis A. The points of engagement of thepedal bars 12 on the pedal cranks 21 a, 21 b are provided at the samedistance from the axis A. The points of engagement are situateddiametrically opposite each other relative to the axis A.

A centrifugal mass 24 designed as a flywheel is driven by the pedalcrank designed as a circular disk 21 a. For this purpose, a toothed beltor V-belt 23 is laid over the circular disk 21 a. This belt drives thecentrifugal mass 24 with the interconnection of a gear. A housing 25 isprovided in the region of the centrifugal mass 24, in which housingvarious electrical components, for example an eddy current brake,various sensors and so on are accommodated.

Guide elements 14 are provided on the pedal bars 12. Pedals 13 can bedisplaced on these guide elements 14 in the direction of extent of thepedal bars 12. The person using the cross trainer stands on thesepedals. The pedals 13 are connected to a first end of a push bar 16 viabearings 15. The push bars 16 are connected at their second end, via arespective bearing 17, to push bar cranks 19. The push bar cranks 19 areconnected fixedly to the bearing journal 20 on which the push bar cranks19 engage by means of their bearing bushings 12 a. These push bar cranks19, which are likewise designed as circular disks, are rotatable aboutthe axis A in the same manner as the pedal cranks 21 a, 21 b.

The points of engagement of the push bars 16 on the push bar cranks 19are situated diametrically opposite each other and in a plane E whichcontains the points of engagement of the push bars 16 on the push barcranks 19, the points of engagement of the pedal bars on the pedalcranks 21 a, 21 b, and the axis A. The push bar cranks 19, the bearingjournal 20, the pedal cranks 21 a, 21 b and a shaft (not illustrated),connecting the pedal cranks 21 a and 21 b to each other, are connectedrigidly to one another and form a multiply stepped crankshaft.

The inclination of the pedals 13 can be changed by the heightadjustability of the front bearing 8 and therefore of the point ofengagement of the pedal levers 9 on the front part 1 b of the frame. Ifthe front bearing 8 is raised, the sensation of having to move uphill isimparted to the user. A lowering of the front bearing 8 enables theopposite to be achieved; that is to say, the sensation of movingdownhill can be imparted to the user.

The displaceability of the pedals 13 on the pedal bars 12 and thecoupling of the pedals 13 to the push bar cranks 19 via the push bars,which displaceability and coupling are additionally provided incomparison to a conventional cross trainer, bring about an additionalmovement of the user on the pedal bars 12. As a result, an overall morenatural movement is achieved than is the case with conventional crosstrainers.

The connection at the second ends of the push bars 16 and the push barcranks 19 is releasable. The point of engagement of the second ends ofthe push bars 16, i.e. the bearings 17, can be displaced radially oroffset on a line B. For this purpose, holes 18 in which a couplingelement of the bearing 17 can engage are provided on each of the pushbar cranks 19. By means of a displacement of the point of engagement ofthe second end of the push bar 16, the travel which the pedal 13experiences on the pedal bars 12 during a revolution of the push barcranks 19 can be varied. A matching to the individual stride of the useris therefore possible.

1. A training apparatus, an elliptical or cross trainer, comprising: twopedals which are fitted on a respective pedal bar, front ends of thepedal bars being connected in an articulated manner to a respectivepedal lever, the pedal levers being fitted pivotably in respective frontbearing, wherein the front bearings are fitted with height adjustabilityon a front part of a frame.
 2. The training apparatus as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the training apparatus has adjustment means foradjusting the height of the front bearings.
 3. The training apparatus asclaimed in claim 2, wherein the adjustment means comprise a drive. 4.The training apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the drive is anelectric motor.
 5. The training apparatus as claimed in claim 2, whereinthe adjustment means comprise conversion elements for converting arotational movement into a linear movement.
 6. The training apparatus asclaimed in claim 5, wherein the conversion elements comprise a spindle.7. The training apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the conversionelements further comprise a nut.
 8. The training apparatus as claimed inclaim 7, wherein the nut is arranged rotatably on the spindle.
 9. Thetraining apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein rear ends of the pedalbars are connected in an articulated manner to a respective pedalcranks.
 10. The training apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein thepedal cranks are arranged rotatably about an axis (A).
 11. The trainingapparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein handles are fitted or formedonto the pedal levers.
 12. The training apparatus as claimed in claim 1,wherein the pedals are mounted displaceably on the pedal bars.
 13. Thetraining apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the pedals areconnected in an articulated manner to respective push bars.
 14. Thetraining apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the push bars areconnected in an articulated manner to respective push bar cranks. 15.The training apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein the push barcranks are arranged rotatably about the axis (A).
 16. The trainingapparatus as claimed in claim. 15, wherein the distances between thepoints of engagement of the push bars on the push bar cranks and theaxis (A) are adjustable.
 17. The training apparatus as claimed in claim1, wherein the pedal cranks, the push bar cranks, or the pedal cranksand push bar cranks, are formed completely or partially by circulardisks.
 18. The training apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein thepoints of engagement of the pedal bars on the pedal cranks and thepoints of engagement of the push bars on the push bar cranks lie in aplane (E) which includes the axis (A).